How pipelines are prepared for deactivation

Pipeline companies must always ensure their operations remain safe for the public and the environment, even if a pipeline isn’t being used.

That’s why Canada’s transmission pipeline operators follow strict guidelines – set and monitored by the National Energy Board (NEB) – when pipelines are taken out of service. Those guidelines consider safety, environmental impacts and cost-effectiveness. And, of course, landowners are always consulted.

Pipeline Deactivation

In this brief video, a senior engineer from Enbridge explains the cleaning process involved in pipeline deactivation—including the use of “cleaning pigs,” brushes and chemical gel to scour the interior of a pipeline that’s been removed from service.

(To watch the video, click on the above image to go to the Enbridge website)